Let's do the Time Warp. Again.

Astute commenters have already noticed the Chron caught in a Time Warp of it's own making - with Dave Laurence reporting on one page that NZ First's list wouldn't be released till that afternoon whilst another part of the paper had said list in its entirety. Meanwhile sister paper the NZ Herald had the story straight in time for it's readers.

Even Dr Frank-n-Furter wouldn't swap his laboratory for the editor's chair at the Chronic, we expect. On the plus side though, the arrival of new columnist Terry Sarten means we might be able to laugh with the paper occasionally instead of just laughing at it. And they've belatedly discovered anonymous interactivity via their "have your say" line on 0800 90 90 10. So by all means, have it. Your say, that is.

Poor Winston. When NZ First kicked off in 1993, and again in 1996, it was a point of some pride to him that it was able to field a candidate in every seat. Now they can muster barely a third, with some long-standing party loyalists pressed into service at the bottom of the list to even make it to 40, with no one willing to stand for Whanganui. Amazingly, that hasn't lengthed those 501 odds being offered by Centrebet.

And another thing: Winston is 60 this year. When this Parliament ends he'll be 63. His namesake, Winston Churchill, was over 60 when he became PM. Then again, John Howard - self-described as "Lazarus with a triple bypass" after coming close to the Prime Ministership but not quite making it - only took till he was 57. Over at Island Life David Slack has come up with a cunning plan to make Winston PM this time round. But if it doesn't work, will he run for another term, leading people as lacklustre as Doug Woolerton, Peter Brown and Brent Catchpole (whom Winston doesn't allow to speak anyway)? Or will he retire to his isolated holiday home up north and, if he does, who will aim to fill his shoes, we wonder? Any guesses?

Comments on this post are now closed.